Rita Panahi: Lisa Wilkinson played woe-is-me victim card when annoucing she was quitting the Project
Rather than bowing out gracefully, Lisa Wilkinson’s departure announcement on The Project was full of drama and self-serving statements.
Rita Panahi
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Lisa Wilkinson’s departure from Ten’s low-rating The Project was full of woe-is-me victim playing.
Rather than bow out gracefully from a role where she was overpaid and underworked, Wilkinson’s announcement was full of drama and self-serving statements about the hardship she had endured.
She even had a dig at those who’ve dared be critical of her reckless conduct in recent months.
“The last six months have not been easy,” Wilkinson emoted.
“And the relentless targeted toxicity by some sections of the media has taken a toll, not just on me, but on people I love … I don’t always get it right. But by God, I’ve tried.”
Well, that is debatable at best.
In June this year, Wilkinson was forced to apologise for a defamatory comment about Coalition MP Andrew Laming after accusing the former member for Bowman of lewd conduct in March 2021. Her belated apology came some 16 months too late.
“I now accept that the claim made about Dr Laming in that tweet was false and defamatory.
I unconditionally withdraw that claim and apologise to Dr Laming for any hurt and offence caused to him by reason of my conduct,”
she wrote.
And though Wilkinson has copped some well-deserved criticism for jeopardising a rape trial for the sake of a Logies speech, she has also been on the receiving end of glowing media coverage from like-minded colleagues.
One can argue the most damning commentary Wilkinson has received has been from ACT Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucy McCallum who “regrettably and with gritted teeth” was forced to vacate Bruce Lehrmann’s rape trial and set a new date. Justice McCallum noted that the “distinction between an allegation and finding of guilt has been completely obliterated in the discussion” and that “the publicity this week has focused sharply on the very fact that was being overlooked, which was that a man is facing trial for a serious offence, and he’s entitled to the presumption of innocence.”
Her misconduct is all the more alarming given she was warned by the ACT’s Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold about the risk of speaking publicly about the case.
Never mind that as an industry veteran she should know better than to say anything that could undermine the legal process and prejudice a trial.
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